Editing Minnesota Timberwolves (section)

===1995–2007: the Kevin Garnett era===
[[File:Kevin Garnett with the Minnesota Timberwolves dunking, 2007.jpg|thumb|upright|right|[[Kevin Garnett]] played for the Timberwolves from 1995 to 2007 before returning in 2015.]]
In the [[1995 NBA draft]], the Timberwolves selected high school standout [[Kevin Garnett]] in the first round (5th overall),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1995.html |title=1995 NBA Draft |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com |date=June 28, 1995 |access-date=March 22, 2013 |archive-date=September 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923200548/https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1995.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Flip Saunders]] was named head coach. [[Christian Laettner]] was traded along with [[Sean Rooks]] to the [[Atlanta Hawks]] for [[Andrew Lang (basketball)|Andrew Lang]] and [[Spud Webb]]. Also, first-round pick [[Donyell Marshall]] was traded the previous season for [[Golden State Warriors]]' forward [[Tom Gugliotta]]. These trades paved the way for rookie Kevin Garnett to become the go-to player inside. Garnett went on to average 10.4 ppg in his rookie season as the Wolves finished in 5th place in the Midwest Division, with a 26–56 record.<ref name="basketball-reference" />

In 1996, the Wolves added another star player in the draft, trading [[Ray Allen]] to the [[Milwaukee Bucks]] for the rights to [[Stephon Marbury]], the 4th overall pick. The addition of Marbury had a positive effect on the entire team, as Garnett and Gugliotta became the first Wolves to be selected to the All-Star team. Gugliotta and Garnett led the Timberwolves in scoring as the team made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history with a record of 40–42. However, [[1997 NBA playoffs|in the playoffs]] the Timberwolves made a quick exit as they were swept by the [[Houston Rockets]] in three straight games.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIN/1997.html |title=1996-97 Minnesota Timberwolves Roster and Stats |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com |access-date=March 22, 2013 |archive-date=April 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130404080930/http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIN/1997.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The T-Wolves also decided to change their image by changing their team logo and color scheme, adding black to the team colors and replacing the original logo with one featuring a snarling wolf looming over a field of trees. It was also during this season that Minnesota began to play on a [[parquet floor]].

In 1997, Garnett and Marbury established themselves as two of the brightest rising stars in the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]]. Garnett averaged 18.5 ppg and 9.6 rebounds per game, while Marbury averaged 17.7 ppg and dished out 8.6 assists per game. Despite losing leading scorer Tom Gugliotta for half the season, the Timberwolves went on to post their first winning season at 45–37, making the playoffs for the second straight season. After dropping Game 1 of the playoffs on the road to the [[Seattle SuperSonics]], the Timberwolves won their first postseason game in Game 2, winning in [[Seattle]] 98–93. As the series shifted to Minnesota, the Timberwolves had an opportunity to pull off the upset as they won Game 3 by a score of 98–90. However, the Wolves dropped Game 4 at home as the Sonics went on to win the series in five games.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIN/1998.html |title=1997-98 Minnesota Timberwolves Roster and Stats |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com |access-date=March 22, 2013 |archive-date=April 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130404052504/http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIN/1998.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1998, a year after signing Kevin Garnett to a six-year, $126 million contract, the Timberwolves were then used as the poster child of irresponsible spending as the NBA endured a four-month lockout that wiped out much of the season. With an already cap-heavy payroll, the Wolves let Tom Gugliotta walk, partially because the team wanted to save money in order to sign Stephon Marbury to a long-term contract, and in part because Gugliotta did not want to play with the young player. This move proved unsuccessful, however, as Stephon Marbury wanted to be the biggest star on a team and subsequently forced an in-season trade by refusing a contract extension. In the three-team mid-season deal that sent Marbury to the [[New Jersey Nets]], the Wolves got [[Terrell Brandon]] in return and a first-round draft pick in the 1999 draft (which turned out to be the sixth pick). The Wolves made the playoffs for the third straight season by finishing in fourth place with a 25–25 record. In the playoffs, the Timberwolves were beaten by the eventual champion [[San Antonio Spurs]] in four games.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIN/1999.html |title=1998-99 Minnesota Timberwolves Roster and Stats |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com |access-date=March 22, 2013 |archive-date=April 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403201938/http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIN/1999.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1999, the Timberwolves drafted [[Wally Szczerbiak]] with the sixth pick in the draft.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nbadraft.net/nba_draft_history/1999.html |title=1999 NBA Draft |publisher=NBADraft.net |access-date=March 22, 2013 |archive-date=March 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313110158/http://www.nbadraft.net/nba_draft_history/1999.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> He had a solid season, finishing third on the team in scoring with 11.6 points per game. Led by Kevin Garnett, who averaged 22.9 points per game and 11.8 rebounds per game, the Timberwolves had their first 50-win season and finished in 3rd place with a record of 50–32. However, in the playoffs the Wolves again fell in the first round, losing to the [[Portland Trail Blazers]] in four games.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_2000.html |title=2000 NBA Playoffs Summary |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com |access-date=March 22, 2013 |archive-date=September 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915015624/https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_2000.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The Wolves opened the 1999–2000 regular season with two home games against the [[Sacramento Kings]] at the [[Tokyo Dome]] on November 6 and 7.

In the summer of 2000, guard [[Malik Sealy]] was killed in a car accident by a drunk driver. Sealy's number has since been retired: the number 2 jersey memorialized with Sealy's name on a banner hanging from the rafters of Target Center. It remains the only number retired by the team.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/2008-03-30-2196930303_x.htm | work=USA Today | title=Driver convicted in Malik Sealy death arrested again for DWI | date=March 30, 2008 | access-date=May 12, 2010 | archive-date=January 30, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130183322/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/2008-03-30-2196930303_x.htm | url-status=live }}</ref>

Also in that season, a free agent deal signed by [[Joe Smith (basketball)|Joe Smith]] was voided by the NBA, who ruled that the Timberwolves violated proper procedure in signing the contract. The league stripped the Timberwolves of five draft picks (first round 2001–2005), but it was eventually reduced to three first-round picks (2001, 2002, and 2004). The league also fined the Timberwolves $3.5 million and suspended general manager Kevin McHale for one year. Smith eventually signed with the [[Detroit Pistons]] before re-signing with the Timberwolves in 2001. Despite those setbacks, the Timberwolves made the playoffs for the fifth straight season with a 47–35 record.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIN/2001.html |title=2000-01 Minnesota Timberwolves Roster and Stats |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com |access-date=March 22, 2013 |archive-date=April 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130404095722/http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIN/2001.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In the playoffs, the Timberwolves were eliminated in the first round again by the [[San Antonio Spurs]] in four games in the spring of 2001.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/2001/playoffs/#null |title=CNNSI.com - 2001 NBA Playoffs |magazine=Sports Illustrated |access-date=March 22, 2013 |archive-date=October 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021024729/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/2001/playoffs/#null |url-status=dead }}</ref>

A number of newcomers arrived prior to the start of the next season, including [[Gary Trent]], [[Loren Woods]] and [[Maurice Evans (basketball)|Maurice Evans]] and the return of [[Joe Smith (basketball)|Joe Smith]]. The Timberwolves started the season by winning their first six games and went on to achieve a franchise-best start of 30–10. The Timberwolves had a franchise-record 53-point win over [[Chicago Bulls|Chicago]] in November. They finished with a 50–32 record: their second-ever 50-win season that was highlighted by another All-Star appearance by Garnett and a breakout season by [[Wally Szczerbiak]], who earned his first All-Star appearance. Once again, Minnesota lost in the first round of the playoffs, where they were swept by the [[Dallas Mavericks]] in three straight games.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_2002.html |title=2002 NBA Playoffs Summary |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com |access-date=March 22, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922012146/http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_2002.html |archive-date=September 22, 2013 }}</ref>

The [[2002–03 NBA season|2002–03 season]] seemed to look up for the Timberwolves. Garnett had a great season where he finished second in [[Most Valuable Player|MVP]] voting with 23.0 points per game and 13.4 rebounds per game and the Timberwolves finished in third place with a 51–31 record. As a result, they were awarded home-court advantage for the first time when facing the three-time defending champion [[Los Angeles Lakers]]. After losing at home in Game 1, the Timberwolves had a chance to take a 3–1 series lead heading into the 4th quarter of Game 4 in Los Angeles, but the Lakers came back to win the game and eventually won the series in six games. In the end, the Timberwolves were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for the seventh straight year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/playoffs2003/ |title=PLAYOFFS 2003 |work=NBA.com |access-date=March 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107233033/http://www.nba.com/playoffs2003/ |archive-date=November 7, 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

====2003–04 season: Western Conference finals appearance====
In 2003, [[Rob Babcock]] was promoted to vice-president of player personnel. He and general manager [[Kevin McHale (basketball)|Kevin McHale]] made a series of strong off-season moves in an attempt to get the team over the hump and beyond the first round of the playoffs. They made two important trades, sending away forward [[Joe Smith (basketball)|Joe Smith]] and guard [[Terrell Brandon]] in a multi-player deal for [[Ervin Johnson]], [[Sam Cassell]] and embattled guard [[Latrell Sprewell]]. They also signed sharp-shooter [[Fred Hoiberg]], and former first overall pick [[Michael Olowokandi]] as free agents, with both becoming key contributors during the season. The Timberwolves rounded out their bench by signing veteran role players [[Trenton Hassell]], [[Troy Hudson]], and [[Mark Madsen (basketball)|Mark Madsen]].

Despite injuries to a revitalized Olowokandi (who missed half the season) and 6th man [[Wally Szczerbiak]] (who only played in 28 games), the revamped Timberwolves became the team to beat during the [[2003–04 NBA season]], finishing the season as the top seed in the Western Conference with a record of 58–24. Garnett had his best season to date, and both Sprewell and Cassell had career years as well. Garnett and Cassell both made [[2004 NBA All-Star Game|the all-star team]], and after the season, Garnett was named [[All-NBA Team|1st Team All NBA]], and earned his first [[NBA Most Valuable Player Award|MVP award]] averaging 24.2 points, 13.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIN/2004.html |title=2003-04 Minnesota Timberwolves Roster and Stats |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com |access-date=March 22, 2013 |archive-date=January 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121111233/https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIN/2004.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

During the [[2004 NBA playoffs]], the Wolves won their first-ever playoff series against the [[Denver Nuggets]], before beating the [[Sacramento Kings]] in a hard-fought seven-game series to advance to the franchise's first Western Conference finals. [[Kevin Garnett]] leapt upon the scorer's table upon the winning Game 7 in the Sacramento series, which became one of the more iconic moments in Minnesota sports history. The Timberwolves' run ended in the Western Conference finals as the team lost to the [[Los Angeles Lakers]]. [[Sam Cassell]] injured his groin during Game 7 against the Kings, doing his infamous ''big balls'' dance after knocking down the series-clinching bucket, and as a result, played only sparingly during the Lakers series. Many around the NBA, including both [[Flip Saunders]] and [[Phil Jackson]] believe that had he been healthy, the Wolves would have advanced to the finals.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sam Cassell's Big Balls Dance cost Timberwolves a title, says Flip Saunders |date=November 4, 2014 |url=https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2014/11/4/7154423/sam-cassell-dance-flip-saunders-kevin-martin-timberwolves |publisher=SB Nation |access-date=May 20, 2019 |archive-date=September 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919054211/https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2014/11/4/7154423/sam-cassell-dance-flip-saunders-kevin-martin-timberwolves |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Sam Cassell doesn't like seeing guys fined for the Sam Cassell dance |date=November 15, 2013 |url=http://nba.nbcsports.com/2013/11/14/sam-cassell-doesnt-like-seeing-guys-fined-for-the-sam-cassell-dance/ |publisher=NBC Sports |access-date=May 20, 2019 |archive-date=February 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209032837/https://nba.nbcsports.com/2013/11/14/sam-cassell-doesnt-like-seeing-guys-fined-for-the-sam-cassell-dance/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Departure of Flip Saunders====
[[File:012308-TC-Twolves001.jpg|thumb|240px|right|The Timberwolves conduct pre-game warm-ups at their home Arena, the [[Target Center]]]]
Going into the [[2004–05 NBA season|2004–05 season]], the Wolves roster remained virtually the same from the previous season; however, Babcock left to become the general manager of the [[Toronto Raptors]], and the team was also plagued with contract disputes and the complaining of key players [[Latrell Sprewell]], [[Sam Cassell]], and [[Troy Hudson]] during the off-season. After a disappointing start to the season, head coach [[Flip Saunders]] was replaced by general manager and long-time friend [[Kevin McHale (basketball)|Kevin McHale]], who took over as coach for the rest of the season. Despite a strong finish, the Timberwolves missed the playoffs for the first time in eight years, by one game, to the [[Memphis Grizzlies]], ending the season with a record of 44–38.

During the 2005 off-season, McHale and the Wolves started their search for a head coach. McHale interviewed [[Seattle SuperSonics]] assistant coach [[Dwane Casey]], [[San Antonio Spurs]] assistant [[P. J. Carlesimo]], former coach [[John Harding Lucas II|John Lucas]] and Wolves assistants [[Randy Wittman]], [[Sidney Lowe]] and [[Jerry Sichting]], among others.

On June 17, 2005, the Timberwolves hired Casey as the new head coach. It was Casey's first head coaching job, making him the Wolves' seventh head coach in their 16-year history.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/caseydw99c.html |title=Dwane Casey NBA & ABA Basketball Coaching Record |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com |date=April 17, 1957 |access-date=March 22, 2013 |archive-date=August 15, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110815174214/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/caseydw99c.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the [[2005 NBA draft|2005 draft]], the Timberwolves selected [[Rashad McCants]], a shooting guard from [[North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball|North Carolina]] with the 14th overall pick of the first round.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/draft2005/board.html |title=NBA Draft Board |work=NBA.com |access-date=March 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112180549/http://www.nba.com/draft2005/board.html |archive-date=January 12, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Timberwolves also selected [[Bracey Wright]], a guard from [[Indiana University (Bloomington)|Indiana]], with the 17th pick of the second round (47th overall).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nbadraft.net/nba_draft_history/2005.html |title=2005 NBA Draft |publisher=NBADraft.net |access-date=March 22, 2013 |archive-date=March 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130325033637/http://www.nbadraft.net/nba_draft_history/2005.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

During the off-season, they traded All-Star [[Sam Cassell]] and a protected future first-round draft pick to the [[Los Angeles Clippers]] for [[Marko Jarić]] and [[Lionel Chalmers]]. They also signed free agent [[Nikoloz Tskitishvili]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/tskitni01.html |title=Nikoloz Tskitishvili NBA & ABA Stats |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com |access-date=March 22, 2013 |archive-date=April 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130404042334/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/tskitni01.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On January 26, 2006, the Wolves traded forward [[Wally Szczerbiak]], centers [[Dwayne Jones (basketball player)|Dwayne Jones]] and [[Michael Olowokandi]], and a future first-round draft pick to the [[Boston Celtics]]. In return, they received forward-guard [[Ricky Davis]], center [[Mark Blount]], forward [[Justin Reed]], guard [[Marcus Banks]], and two second-round draft picks. In a separate trade on the same day, the Timberwolves traded Tskitishvili to the [[Phoenix Suns]] for a 2006 second-round draft pick. The Timberwolves finished 33–49, missing the playoffs for the second consecutive year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/standings/2005/team_record_comparison/conferenceNew_Std_Div.html |title=NBA.com |website=[[NBA.com]] |date=September 16, 2008 |access-date=March 22, 2013 |archive-date=February 20, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100220221928/http://www.nba.com/standings/2005/team_record_comparison/conferenceNew_Std_Div.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the [[2006 NBA draft]], the Timberwolves selected future [[NBA Rookie of the Year]] [[Brandon Roy]] with the 6th overall pick, [[Craig Smith (basketball, born 1983)|Craig Smith]] with the 36th pick, forward [[Bobby Jones (basketball, born 1984)|Bobby Jones]] with the 37th pick and center [[Loukas Mavrokefalidis]] with the 57th pick. The Timberwolves traded Roy to the [[Portland Trail Blazers]] for [[Randy Foye]] and cash considerations. The Timberwolves then traded [[Bobby Jones (basketball, born 1984)|Bobby Jones]] to the [[Philadelphia 76ers]] for a 2007 second-round pick and cash.

On January 23, McHale fired head coach Casey and replaced him with [[Randy Wittman]]. McHale explained in a news conference that it was inconsistency by Casey that led to the firing. Casey had compiled an overall record of 53–69. They finished the 2006–07 season with a record of 32–50, allowing them to keep their 2007 first-round pick.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIN/2007.html |title=2006-07 Minnesota Timberwolves Roster and Stats |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com |access-date=March 22, 2013 |archive-date=April 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130404102741/http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIN/2007.html |url-status=live }}</ref>